National Post Headline Casts Doubt: Murder of Hallel Ariel Maybe Not Terrorism
July 5 Update: National Post Amends the Headline
Following CAMERA’s communication with several editors yesterday, editors commendably amended the headline. It now appropriately states: “Palestinian fatally stabs Israeli girl, 13, as she sleeps in her bedroom in West Bank settlement.” CAMERA commends editors for their quick follow up.
July 4 — Can the murder of a sleeping 13-year-old child out of nationalistic motives be considered anything other than a terrorist attack? Canada’s The National Post ran the following headline about the murder of Hallel Yaffa Ariel, a 13-year-old Israel girl murdered in her bed last week by a Palestinian: “Palestinian fatally stabs sleeping Israel girl in West Bank settlement in what Israel calls a terrorist attack.”
Why the qualifying reference to “what Israel calls a terrorist attack,” as if there is a question as to whether the nationalistically motivated murder of a sleeping child is actually terrorism? The story, by Ruth Eglash, originated in The Washington Post where it was appropriately, and more briefly, headlined: “Palestinian fatally stabs sleeping Israeli girl, 13, in West Bank settlement.”
Indeed, the reference to a “terrorist attack” is superfluous because the facts speak for themselves. But, once The National Post does lengthen the headline by including a reference to a “terrorist attack,” on what grounds does it cast doubt on that fact that the nationalistic murder of a child is anything but a terror attack? Is this what The National Post calls a journalistically sound headline?
CAMERA has contacted editors to request that the bizarre headline be amended. Readers may also submit feedback to editors through The Post‘s site.
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